14.15
HeavyEaster Festival 8-10 April Novice Hurdle
- Prize money: £6004.42
- 2m 3f 110y
- 6 runners
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Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Abandoned
Form: 6122 D
Last run: 47 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 3 |
10th Oct 2023 Yielding 2m 7f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Well below his best in two handicap hurdles in the spring but a bit better run in a Wexford novice in May; poor over fences last twice. |
25/1 |
|
0 3 |
1st Sep 2023 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Sole win came in 2m5f maiden here last year, showing better form in novice company afterwards; below best in the spring and tailed off on chasing debut in July; tongue tie tried now back hurdling but looks to have it to do on recent form. |
16/1 |
|
6th 5 |
4th Jul 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 114y |
11st 5lb |
Far better than latest placings suggest but hard to know what to expect here on chasing debut from this 0-4 pointer and 1-7 hurdler; worth a market check all the same. |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 13 BF
Last run: 54 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12 |
17th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
Bought for 360,000euros after winning his sole start in France; consistent efforts for Willie Mullins without yet making the expected progress, most recently second at Thurles (2m4f, good to yielding); has been untidy with his jumping the last twice but is open to any amount of improvement off this opening mark granted an error-free round and his trainer has won this contest four times with horses who proved handicap snips in hindsight; has to be feared. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
9th Feb 2023 Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
11st 8lb |
Expensive purchase from France; respectable debut in a Gowran maiden hurdle in November but no match for the useful Three Card Brag at Fairyhouse; holds entries in the Ballymore and the Albert Bartlett but would need to win this well to justify that. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 2 |
25th Jan 2023 Soft To Heavy 2m 3f 110y |
11st 10lb |
raced in second, not fluent 6th, not fluent 3 out, made challenge when pushed along home turn, outpaced when ridden before last, kept on but no match for winner |
11/8 |
Abandoned
Form: 35-416
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14 |
26th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 5f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Record of 2-20 over hurdles; can run well if bringing his best form on chasing debut but lacks a recent outing. |
20/1 |
|
8th 9 |
15th May 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
11st 1lb |
A fairly consistent sort but has been slow to come down the handicap as a result; fair 10th of 25 at Punchestown last month; very best form is on soft. |
11/1 |
|
10th 4 |
26th Apr 2023 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 11lb |
in rear |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1-132
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 12 |
2nd Dec 2023 Soft 2m 5f 110y |
11st 12lb |
jumped left on occasions, led, ridden when faced challenge before last, kept on well but headed towards finish |
5/1 |
|
6th 1 |
26th Apr 2023 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 12lb |
Comfortably beat Sandor Clegane and Nucky Johnson in a Galway maiden hurdle (2m) on seasonal debut; was then just denied by Inthepocket in a Naas Grade 2 before winning a Fairyhouse novice, both over this trip; might not have stayed 3m in the Albert Bartlett and the drop back to this trip should suit. |
7/4 |
|
5th 19 |
17th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
For one with a stamina-laden pedigree he did well to win twice at 2m (bumper/maiden) and his recent form at about 2m4f makes for impressive reading, having pushed the Supreme fourth Inthepocket to a neck (Grade 2) before comfortably accounting for his market rival on return to a non-Graded novice race at Fairyhouse (soft to heavy); relentless galloper and this race should be right up his street; big player. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 471PF0 CD
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 3lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
17th Nov 2023 Heavy 2m 7f 0y |
10st 2lb |
Mare has done well to win in four categories, point/bumper/hurdle chase; however, well held by Joyeux Machin on running here in September; moderate run over hurdles on latest; tongue-tie fitted now in addition to usual hood. |
25/1 |
|
8th 6 |
5th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 0f 0y |
11st 8lb |
Consistent mare has been mostly chasing this year, winning at Thurles earlier but was below form in a Tipperary Grade 3 last time; can go well off this mark back hurdling. |
11/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 360935
Last run: 19 days
W: 10st 11lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 |
20th Aug 2023 Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
midfield |
4/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
21st Jul 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 2f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Bit in and out but scored at Tramore last month; folded tamely after a mistake at Punchestown 8 days later but can't be ruled out here given an error-free round. |
9/1 |
|
22 |
14th Jul 2023 Good 2m 0f 190y |
11st 10lb |
Third reserve; unreliable hold-up mare but won twice recent months; could go either way. |
Verdict
THREE CARD BRAG has some solid Graded form over obstacles and was unlucky not to win the Grade 2 at Navan on his last start. That race looked to turn into a sprint finish and the hurdles were omitted in the straight, both of which counted against him. Spanish Harlem ran a promising race on his Irish debut at Gowran but will need to find plenty of improvement to beat the selection. Dovlator is holding his form well, but has a tough assignment given the strength of the likely market principals. [Conor Fennelly]